Markatos family raises money for Habitat build with golf outing

Saturday

May 31, 2014 at 6:30 PM

By Andrea.Goodell@HollandSentinel.com(616) 546-4275

Kelly Markatos had a big heart, especially when it came to kids, and her family is working hard to continue the work the 22-year-old started at Lakeshore Habitat for Humanity.“Kelly’s Home” is the latest Holland Habitat home, and construction will begin next month. Their latest effort is a special fundraising golf outing July 11 at the Ravines Golf Club, 3520 Palmer Drive, Saugatuck. All money raised will go toward the build.Markatos, a Central Michigan senior, died in September from complications of bulimia. Shortly before she died, she was a public relations intern at Lakeshore Habitat for Humanity.She would have graduated May 9.“It just helps us to live out her legacy because she’s not here to continue to support children and families,” said John Markatos, Kelly’s father.To build a Habitat home costs $80,000 to $90,000; organizers have raised a significant portion of that, but still have $35,000 to go.By July 11, the golf outing could very well put them over the top — at least, that’s the hope of John Markatos. The golf fundraiser is still seeking sponsors for title sponsorships and in-kind prize donations.Teams of two or four ($200 per golfer) can register at tinyurl.com/kellygolf, by phone, (616) 393-8001, or in person/by mail at Lakeshore Habitat for Humanity, 12727 Riley St., Holland, MI 49424. Registration is due by June 30 (golfer names and shirt sizes are required).Each registration includes a light breakfast, 18 holes of golf at the Ravines Golf Club, cart, beverages, customized golf balls, Kelly’s Home shirt and a catered lunch. There will also be prizes and raffle tickets.“So much of the Habitat mission and goals is long-term development for the family,” said Bev Crandall-Rice, development director at Lakeshore Habitat. “It’s that long-term housing piece that is often the missing link to long-term success for kids.”The Markatos family was able to help select the family who will move into “Kelly’s Home.”Allan Diaz is a single father of two children, Alejandro, 8, and Hannah, 11. He left his native San Jose, Costa Rica, in 2010 to become a legal, permanent resident in the U.S. Families must apply to be considered for a Habitat home. They receive financial counseling and must put in 250 hours of "sweat equity" per parent.Helping another family has been therapeutic for the Markatos family.“We have hard times still. It’s still fresh in our memory,” John Markatos said Friday.He added, his family’s faith has been the one thing seeing them through.“There was a reason. There was a calling from God,” he said. “And her death is still helping others.”The family hopes to make this an annual build in Kelly’s honor.“We want to help Habitat and help fulfill Kelly’s dreams for as long as we can,” her father said.During the week leading up to the golf outing, there will be a ceremonial wall raising and, the day after the event, the Markatos family has the very first volunteer build day."We are so excited that the home build is really taking shape now. What a blessing it will be to complete this build with (Lakeshore Habitat for Humanity) and be able to give a family a "home." To our family, it is a way for Kelly's love to live on," her mother, Lori, wrote in a letter to Lakeshore Habitat recently.The three-month build still needs volunteers. Those interested can call Lakeshore Habitat Volunteer Coordinator Stacey Korecki at (616) 393-8001, ext. 103.Kelly Markatos had hoped to continue her work for Habitat after she graduated, Crandall Rice said. And perhaps she has: “Coming together with a common goal and continuing to help a family in need — it’s what Kelly would do.”— Follow this reporter on Facebook and on Twitter, @SentinelAndrea.